Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is primarily based on one of 20 seafaring stories by popular British author Patrick O'Brian, who died in 2000.

Crowe arrived at the screening with pregnant wife Danielle Spencer

It sees Russell Crowe plays a naval hero, leading a crew of 197 men into battle against the French.

Organisers of the première gave it a nautical theme, swapping the traditional red carpet for a sea blue one, and erecting flame-firing cannons and water
projection.

The typical British winter weather also helped with the water theme, but the rain did not stop hundreds turning out to cheer Crowe and the cast.

James D'Arcy, who plays Lt Tom Pullings, commented the weather was "reminiscent" of what the cast endured during filming.

"We were soaked, we were absolutely soaked for about 11 days. They had
massive dump tanks, which were like big barrels on a slide. They opened
themselves up and you saw the water about half a second before it came.

Oscar contender

"I have to say that the costumes were not exactly water resistant so once you
were wet at about 9 o'clock in the morning, that was it. You just stayed wet for
the rest of the day."

Much of the film was shot in a six-and-a-half acre tank in Mexico where director James Cameron sunk the Titanic.

The film is already attracting Oscar interest, with Crowe and
Bettany winning US critics' plaudits, and cinematographer Russell Boyd praised for the lush visuals.

It is released in London on 21 November and nationwide on 28 November.